Update on the new Florida DEM
(Designated Establishment Manager) Requirement
The FSA recently sent an update regarding the new Florida DEM law. We trust that you have most likely named a Designated Establishment Manager (DEM) when you filled out the form you received from Florida Health, Board of Massage. This new bill went into effect on January 1, 2020,and if you haven’t complied yet, the deadline is quickly approaching on March 20th, 2020. Please be sure to address this matter so that you do not experience any disruption to your spa operations.
There’s More Updated News …… In hearing information being circulated regarding the new human trafficking laws we wanted to send out information to clarify what the expectations are as defined under the Department of Health for Florida. In addition to the DEM mandatory ruling, we have learned that All Massage Therapists licensed by the Department of Health are required to take a 1 hour CE course concerning human trafficking. This has to be an approved course through the CE Broker site that they offer.
This is what the state has defined as requirements for spas.
DEM: We all already know about the DEM. This must be a licensed massage therapist who will be in charge of ensuring that the property they are working for is abiding by all of the requirements for licensing in the state. All massage establishments are required to have a DEM in order to hold onto their establishment license. At this time, there are no additional courses or CE’s that are required specifically for the DEM position. They will be required to have the same requirements as LMT’s. However, there is another new requirement for LMT’s concerning human trafficking through.
CE Course for Human Trafficking: All massage therapists licensed by the Department of Health are required to take a 1 hour CE course concerning human trafficking. This has to be an approved course through the CE Broker site that they offer. For information, please refer to this site: https://courses.cebroker.com/search. If it is not approved it will not count. This is a one-time course that has to be taken and at this time is not required each time CE’s are renewed with licensing.
Massage Establishment Plan for Reporting Human Trafficking: It is mandatory that each massage establishment has a plan on reporting human trafficking if it occurs in their establishment. This is brand new law and they have not implemented a structure for this yet. However, this should be on our radar to follow. The employee at the Board of Massage stated it is recommended to report any incident by calling the trafficking hotline. Yet, nothing has been formally announced as of this time.
Please be sure to review this site on this new law: http://www.flhealthsource.gov/humantrafficking/#massage
Contribution by Bill Toth, Spa Director, Margaritaville Orlando and the FSA